Bowling-alley.



G. B. BRENNBMAN. BOWLING ALLEY. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1900.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

. a SHEETS-SHEET 1. 22

WITNESSES 7 INVENTOR ELARENEE BERENNEMAN C7, a t

A TTOHNEYS 0. B. BRENNEMAN. BOWLING ALLEY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1906.

' Patented N0v,17, 1908. 5 I e SHEETS-SHEET 2. i 34 3 I /NVE/VTO/-7 CLARENCE B. EIHENNEMAN 0. B. BRENNEMAN.

BOWLING ALLEY. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 190a.

904,400, Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3. 5 01 .62

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I W/TN-ESSES INVENTOI? ELARENBEBBRENNEMAN ATTORNEYS C. B. BRENNEMAN.

BOWLING ALLEY. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1906.

904,400, Patented Nov. 17,1908.

' Q e SHEETS-SHEET 4.

r a as [I J6 QL=11T 9 I Hm I 1 I l IL') A m" .55 f m 0 1 42 41 63 h 45 J2 J3 J2 51 62 45 r I E' 43 um! I HIIHI In l, 9 :5 Q J I g: Q 41 (5'5 9.1. 1 o 54 a v 3 J 62 4 v 5:2 45 h WITNESSES INVENTORI 3 CLARENCE ELEIRENNEMAN Q a/kky B) Z, ML o ATTORNEYS O. B. BRENNBMAN. BOWLING ALLEY. APPLIGATION FILED NOV. a, 1906.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WITNESSES INVENTOR V BLARENBE ELBRENNEMAN B) A TTOHNEYS G. B. BRENNEMAN.

BOWLING ALLEY. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1906.

Patented Nov. 17,1908.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

WITNESSES 7g, 4?

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I ITED shores PATENT c tation.

CLARENCE B. BRENNEMAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

' sesame-steer.

' I Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented. Nov. '17, mos.-

Application classmate 5, 190a sees the. 342,6?3.

in sectioh of my improved bowlin alley.

Fig. 2 is aside view of one end of t e alley.

partly in section. Fig. 3 is a planview of one end of the allev. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. *2, looking in the direction of the arrows. .Fig. 5 is a section on the-line of Fig. 2, looking in the direc tion of the arrows. Fig. 6 isa detail view of the ball releasingdevice. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section through the ball separating device on the lihe7- of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a side view of an alley showing a modified form of my invention. Fig. 9 1s a similar view showi'ngthe setting device in a different osition. .,Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section 0 Fig. 8. Fig. '11 is'a longitudinal section of-Fig. 9. Fig. 12 .is a plan View of Fig. 8. Fig. 13 is a section on the line 1.313 of Fig. 12 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 14 is a. section on the line .-1414 of Fig. 12 lookingin the direction of 35 the arrow; and Fig. 15 is a section on the line 1515 of Fig. 12 looking in the direction of the arrow.

tion, the alley-way is of ordinary form and construction,.c'omprising the floor 1, the side walls 2 and the return grooves 3,- adj acent to the side walls, and upon each side of the floor. Instead of pins, I make use or balls 5, and that portion of the flooriof the alley upon which the balls are placed, is provided I with depressions 6, the said depressions heing arranged in proper position with respect to each other. h

That portion 1 of the floor of the alleyway upon which the pin balls areyplaced is inclined slightly toward the end of the alfey, as shown by dottedlines in Fig. Q, and the grooves 8 upon each side of the portion i of theiioor are also inclined towards the a casing having therein a plurality of horiend hf thealley-way, whereby to guide the {pin 'ballsand the casting balls into a receptacle e at the end or thealley-way, the floor or the said receptacle having at one end thereof an opening 7, for permitting the passage or the balls therethrough, and the so floor of the receptacle is inclined in all di'recfi tions toward the said opening.

i i-separating device 8 is arranged beneath. the receptacle 6 the said device comprising zontal partitions dividing the easing into compartments 9, 10, and 11, the-compare ments 9 and 111 being arranged above and below the compartment 10 and communicating with each other as shown in Fig. 1. The partitions which divide the casing of the separating device into compartments, are

each rovlded upon the upper surface thereor with a longitudinal groove 12, in which may roll the balls, and at suitable positions ferent partitions, the aperture in the parti tion between the compartment- 9 and the compartment 10 being of a size to permit the passage of the pin balls 5 and the smaller casting halls 14,-and to prevent the passage" of the larger casting calls 15, and the partition between the compartments 10 and 11 is large enough to permit thepassage" of the smaller casting balls, while preventing the -assage of the pin balls. It will be evident rom the description, that the large casting balls are retained in the compartment 9,

while the pin halls and the smaller casting 90 balls pass through the opening 13 into the In the present embodiment ,ofmy invencompartment 10, and from this compartment the smaller casting balls pass through the opening into the compartment 11, where they are joinedby the larger casting balls, as shown in Fig. 1.

Eachot the compartments 10 and this provided at its lower end with openings 16, 17, respectively, and the openings are normally closedby a stop late 18, pivoted to the casing of the separating device as at 19. The stop plate 18 is of the shape shown in Figs. 4 and 5, one of the ends thereof being weighted as at 20, whereby to normally retain it in the osition shown in Fig. 5, and the other end is provided with a pin 21 for engagement by the spotting device 22, where'- by to move the stop plate in position to un- 7 5 in the grooves are apertures 13, the said apertures being of difierent sizes in the dif-' 2 cover the openings 16, 17, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The spotting device 22 com rises a closed casing pivoted to the side the bowling alley, said casing being rectangular in cross section and having the lower end thereof curved outwardly as at 23, the said curved end being provided with openings 24, 25, registering with the openings 16, 17, of the separating device, when the casing is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The side wall 2 of the'alley-way is cut away as at 26, and the casing is pivoted by trunnions 22 'to lugs 27 arranged upon each side of the said cut away portion, said cut away portion corresponding in extent to the length of the portion 1 of the alley floor. A handle 28 is arranged upon one side of the casing for convenience in manipulating the. same, and a shutter 29 is pivoted to the side of the casing in position to cover the openings 24,25, the said shutter being engaged by the stop plate 18 to move the shutter from over the openings when the'spotting device is in the position shown in Fig. 4, and when the spotting device is rocked into the position shown in Fig. 5, the shutter falls by gravity over the openings, apin 30 upon the shutter limiting the motion thereof with respectto the 30 casing.

' The interior of the casing of the spotting device 22 is divided intoa plurality of passageways 31, by the partitions 32 secured to the bottom of the casing, and each of said passageways leads to an opening 33 in the bottom of the casing, the openings 33 corresponding in position to the depressions for receiving the pin balls 5, and being of a diameter sufficient to permit the passage of the said pin balls. The partitions 32 extend entirely around the openings 33, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and a shoulder 34 is arranged in each passageway at the edge of the opening, the said shoulder being merely hi h enough to oifer a momentary check to t e pin ball as it asses thereover, this being for the purpose 0t preventing a second ball from passing through the opening, until the spotting device is lifted high enough from the v floor of the alley so that the inclination of the bottom thereof will return the balls toward the rear end. i

It will be noticed from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 4, that the opening 24 Fig. 4 in the side of the casing of the spotting device 22, communicates with the body of the interior of the casing, while the opening 25 Fig.

2 communicates with a passageway 35 which leads along the end of the casing to the opposite side thereof, and from thence to a relatively large opening 36, which when the spotting device is rocked into the position shown 111 Fig. 5, registers with one of the grooves 3 of the alley-way. The pin balls (55 passing through the registering openings 16,

24, are received.in a groove 37 arranged transversely of the spotting device, the inner ends of the partitions 32 ending at the edge of the said groove.

It will be evident from the description, that when the spotting device is rocked into the position shown in Fig. 5, the pin balls in the groove 37 will roll into the passageways 31, and through the openings 33 intothe depressions on the portion 1 of the floor, while the casting'balls 14, 15, will roll through the passageway 35' and through the opening 36 into the groove 3.

I have shown my'improved bowling alley arranged for eleven pin balls. In games requiring a lessnumber of balls, a device is made use of which will permit the passage of the required number of balls from the groove 37 to the alley floor, while preventing the passage of the remaining balls. This device comprises a shaft 38 ,JOHIIlRlBd in the casing of the spotting device 22 adjacent to the commencement of the passageways 31, and the said shaft is provided with longitudinal series of radial fingers 39, one of said series having a: finger corresponding to each passageway 31, while the remaining series are provided with a less number of fingers. For instance, in a six-ball game, the shaft would be turned to bring a series of fingers into the passageways, which would retain all but six of the balls, it being understood that the passageways to the proper openings would be left open, while the remaining passages would be closed by the fingers. A hand wheel 40 is provided on the end of the shaft for convenience in manipulating the same.

One of the trunnions 22 of the spotting device 22 is extended to the opposite end of the alley and is provided with a crank 22,

whereby to manipulate the spotting device from the opposite end of the alley, a suitable bearing 22 being provided for supporting the extended portion of the trunnion.

It will be noticed from an inspection of Fig. 4 that a pocket 23 is provided at the end of each passageway 31 immediately in frontoof the groove 23. These pockets receive the balls from the groove when the spotting device is tilted and insure the proper positioning of the ball with respect .to the passageway.

It w1ll be understood that the groove 23is just long enough to receive the maximum number of balls, so that when the balls are in the groove, they will be properly lined up before the passages.

In the; modification shown in Figs. 8 to 15 inclusive, a portion of the floor 1 of the alley-way is cut away, and within the opening is pivota'lly mounted a casing 41, the said casing being provided with trunnions 42 engaging openings in the sides of the cut away portion of the floor, and the rear end of the casing is provided with a weight 43,

The casing all at theiront end thereoi s proenings Y vided with-a plurality of circnlar o 48 therethrough, corresponding in nnmber and position to the position or" the pin balis, and movable in each of the openings is a pin 419 having a depression in the upper end thereof, the said pin being integrai with a Q block 51, connected to the casing 11, by means of lazy tongs 52. Brackets a:e securedto the floor of the alley-way, proect downwardly therefrom, the said brackets 7 being provided with ciirved slots engaged and the groove in the top of the receptacle l rollers upon the lazy tongs as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. TVhen the casing 11 is rocked into the position shown in Fig. 9, the en gagement of the roller with the cam slot 5%, opens the lazy'tongs, thus moving the block 51- away from the casing ii, and nioving the pins 49 into the position shown in Fig. 11.

The interior of the casing 4:1 is provided with passageways 56, formed by partitions 57secured to the bottom oi the casing and leading to the circular openings S, the partitions being continued around the openings whereby to form a stop for the balls as they roll along the passageway. Upon the upper surface of the casing ll, is arranged a cushion 58, the said cushion curved as shown in Fig. 12, whereby to deflect the balls to one side of the casing, and immediately in -front of theicushion is a groove 59. The groove 59, connects with a groove in the top of a receptacle 61 at the side of the connects with a groove 59 on the top or the casing behind the cushion leading to theopposite side of the casing from the receptacle. The groove 59 is connected with the groove 59 by the groove on the top oi the receptacle, thus forming practically a continuous groove, and the groove in the top of the receptacle is provided with an opening tiOleading into the receptacle. The rece tacle 51 has an opening in the side thereo covered by a stop plate 62 similar to the plate 18 be-. fore described, the plate being normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 9 by the weight 63. on one end thereof, and being moved into the position shown in Fig. 8, by

V the engagement of the casing 41 with a pm upon the said stop plate. The opening in the side of the receptacle 61 registers an-opening in the side of the casing 41, when the said casing is in the position shdwn in Fig. 8, thus admitting the hailst-o the interior of the casing, the balls 1| 1 a position across the rear end thereof, as shown in'Fig.

son

12. being retained in this position by the retaining device 65, said device being in all respects similar to the retaining devlce :shown in Fig. 6. The opening in the side of the is normally closed by a shutter v; "56, pivoted to the side of the casing, the

shutter being elevated by engaging the stop plnte 62, when the casing is in the position shown in Fig. 8, and dropping by gravity over the opening when the casing is in the pos' ion shown in Fig. 9. ii. pin 67 on the 1 er engages the casing, as shown in Fig.

o the casing.

1i bracket 68 is secured to the end of the alley-way at one side thereof, and connected with the bracket is a runway formed by two rods 69 secnred to the bracket and extending to the opposite end or" the alley-way, the said rods being spaced apart a sutficient distance from other, whereby to prevent the passage or" the casting balls therethrough.

in the operation of the modification, the casting balls and the pin balls are deflected by the cushion into the groove 59, the pin balls passing through the opening into the receptacle 81, while the casting balls pass behind the cushion into a groove 59*,it being understood that said. groove 59 gradu ally increases in depth from the opening in the receptacle 61 to the opposite side of the casing- When it is desired to reset the balls,- a upon the rope 4:4: swings the casing into the position shown in .Fig. 9, with the block 51 separated from the casing 41 so that the tops of the pins e9 are on a level with whereby to limit its motion with respect.

down the part 59 of the groove 59 and on to the runway :formed by the rods 69, thus returning to the opposite end of the alleyway. The pin balls have meanwhile passed by the stop plate 62'into the casing, being retained therein by the shutter (36, and when the casing is rocked, as shown in Fig. 11, the pin balls pass down the passageways and into the depressions on the tops ofthe pins 49. When the rope ad is released, the weight swings the easing into its normal position, and the engagement of the rollers on the lazy tongs with the cams 53, moves the block 51 up against the casing e 1, thus causing the pins to push the balls through the openings in the top of the casing, as shown in Fig. 1, it being understood that the pins are sufiiciently high to bring their upper surface on a level with the floor of the bowling alley I when the block is in contact with the casing.

1 claim: 7 V

1. a. bowling alley, the combination with the floor having a return groove upon each side thereof, and depressions for receiv ing the pin balls,of a receptacle at the end of the alley for receiving the balls" from the floor, said receptacle having an opening in the bottom thereof to permit the passage oi the balls, a device for separating the pin balls fromv the casting balls, comprising a casing beneath the receptacle, said casing being divided by horizontal partitions into a central compartment for receiving the pin balls, and upper and lower compartments for receiving the casting balls, said upper compartment opening into said lower comwith an opening for the casting balls adapted to register with a return groove, and with openings in the side thereof registering with openingsleadingfrom the separating device whereby to receive the balls therefrom, the interior of thecasing being divided into passageways, one of said passageways for receiving the casting balls and leading to the opening therefor, and the other passageways for receiving the pin balls and leading to the openings therefor. r.

2. Ian bowling alley, the combination with the floor having a return groove upon each side thereof and depressions for receivingthe pinballs, of a receptacle at the end of the alley for receiving the balls, said re ceptacle having an opening in the bottom thereof, a device for separating the pin balls from the casting balls, comprlsing a casing beneath the receptacle, said casing being divided by horizontal partitions into a central compartment for receiving the pin balls, and

upper and lower compartments for receiving the casting balls, said upper compartment opening into the lower compartment, and

means for spotting. the pin balls in the de pressions and for placing the casting balls in the return grooves.

3. In a bowling alley, the combination with the floor having a return groove upon each side thereof, and depressions for receivin the pin balls, of a receptacle at the end 0 the alley for receiving the balls, a device in connection with the receptacle for separating the pin balls from the casting balls, a spotting device comprising a casing pivoted to the side of the alley and adapted I to berocked to bring the bottom of the cas ing in contact with the surface of the floor, said casing having openings for the pin balls in the bottom thereof and corresponding in number and position to the depressions for receiving thepin balls, and an opening for the casting balls adapted to register with a return groove: and means in connection with the separating device and the spotting device for leading the pin balls to the openings therefor, and the casting balls to the openings therefor.

4:- In a bowling alley, the combination with the floor having a return groove upon each side thereof and depressions for receiving the pin balls, of a receptacle at the end of the alley for receiving the balls, a device for separating the pin balls from the casting balls, and ,means for receiving the balls from the separating device and for placing the pin balls in the depressions and the casting balls in the return grooves.

5. In a bowling alley, the combination with the floor, of means at one end of the floor for receiving the pin balls and the casting balls and for separating said pin balls from said casting balls, means in connection with the alley for returning the casting balls to the opposite end thereof, and means for receiving the balls from the separating device and for spotting the pin balls on the floor and placing' the casting balls r in the returning device.

6. In a bowling alley, the combination with the floor, of a receptacle at the end of the alley for receiving the balls a spotting device comprising a casing having openwith longitudinal series of fingers adapted to be interposed in the passageways whereby to retain sundry ofthe balls in the groove.

7. In a bowling alley, the combination with the floor having a return groove at the sides thereof, of a receptacle at the end of the floor for receiving and separating the pin balls from the casting balls, said means having openings in the side thereof for permitting the passage of the balls, a normally active stop plate for closing said openings, a spotting device comprising a casing pivoted to the side of the alley and adapted to be rocked whereby to bring the lower face of the casing in contact with the floor of the alley, the bottom of the casing being provided with an opening for the pin balls corresponding in number and position to the position of the pin balls on the floor, and with anopening for the casting balls adapted to register with one of the return grooves, said casing having grooves transversely thereofat the opposite end from the openings for receiving the balls from the separating device and having passages leading from said grooves to the openings.

8. In a bowling alley, the combination with the floor having depressions for receiving the pin balls, and return grooves upon each side of the floor for the casting balls, of a receptacle at the end of the alley for receiving the balls, means in connection with the receptacle for separating the pin balls from the casting balls, and means for receiving the balls from the separating device and for returning the pin balls to the depressions and the casting balls to the return grooves.

9. In a bowling alley, the combination with the floor upon which are placed the upon the floor and deliver the casting balls pin balls, of a receptacle for receiving the balls from the fioor,'meansfor separating the pin balls from the casting balls, a pivotally mounted spotting device for receiving the balls from the separating means, means for returning the casting balls to the oppositeend of the alley, means whereby to rock the spotting device, and means whereby the rocking of the device will spot the pin balls rating the pin balls from the casting balls,-

and means for receiving the pin balls from the separating device and spotting them on the floor.

f 12. In a bowling alley, the combination -with the floor, of means for receiving the balls and for separating the pin balls from the casting balls, a spotting device for receiving the pin balls therefrom and spotting them on the floor, and means in connection with the spotting device whereby to vary the number and position of the balls spotted.

13. In a bowling alley, the combination with the floor, of a casing for receiving the balls and for separating the pin balls from the casting balls, a spotting device comprising a movable casing for receiving the pin balls and spotting them on the floor of the alley, said casings having registering openings whereby to permit the passage of the pin balls, stop devices for closing said openings, and means whereby the movement of the spotting device may operate said stop vdevices. L

'14. In a bowling alley, a spotting device,

comprising a casing mounted to rock upon "the side of the alley, and provided in the bottom thereof with openings corresponding in position and number to the position of the pin balls on the floor, and means for separating the pin balls from the casting balls and means for leading the pin balls to the spotting device. c

15. In a bowling alley, a spotting device,

a device for se ar'ating the pin. balls from the casting b'al s, means for conducting the balls to the spotting'device, a returning device in connection with the alley, and means in connection with the spotting device for delivering the casting balls to the returning device.

16; In a bowling alley, a spotting device, means for separating the pin balls from the casting balls and means delivering them to the spotting device.

.17. In a bowling alley, a spotting device comprising a casing pivotally mounted by the center thereof, and adapted to be rocked whereby to bring the bottom of the casing in contact with the floor of the alley, said casing having at one end openings in the bottom thereof corresponding in number and position to the'number and position of the balls on the floor, and at the other end a groove for receiving the balls and having passageways leading from the groove. to the individual openings.

18. In a bowling alley, a spotting device comprising a casing pivotally mounted by the center thereof and adapted to be rocked whereby to bring the bottom thereof in contact with the floor of the alley, said casing having at one end openings in the bottom thereof, corresponding to the positions of the balls on the floor, and at the other end a groove for receiving the balls and with passageways leading from the groove to the individual openings, and means interposable in the passageways to restrain the balls.

19. In a bowling alley, a spotting device comprising a casing pivotally mounted'by the center thereof and adapted to be rocked whereby to bring the bottom thereof contact with the floor of the alley, said casing having at one end openings in the bottom thereof, corresponding to the positions of the balls on the floor, and at the other end a groove for receiving the balls and with passageways leading from the groove to the individual openings, and means interposable in the passa eways for. restraining sundry of the balls w ereby to vary the posltion and number of balls on the floor. 5

20. In a bowling alley, a spotting device comprising a casing pivotally mounted by the center thereof, and adapted to be rocked whereby'to bring the bottom of thecasing in contact with the fioor of the alley, said casing having at one end openings in the bottom thereof corresponding in number and position to the number and position of the balls on the floor, and at the other end a groove for. receiving the balls and having passageways leading from the groove to the individual openings and shoulders in the passages at the edge of the openings.

21. In a bowling alley, a spotting device comprising a casing adapted to be roclied whereby to bring the bottom of the casing into contact with the floor of the alley, said individual openings, and with a; pocket at casing having at one end openings in the the commencement of each passageway and bottom thereof, correspondinginnumber and directly in front of the groove.

position to thevnumber ami position of the CLARENCE B. BRENNEMAN. ba11s on thefloor, and at the other end a Witnesses:

groove for receiving the balls and having Anno'rr W. SAWYER,

passageways leading from the groove to the P E. P. SAWYER. 

